I might have under-thought the results of multiple, rapid life changes and how they extract their toll on us retired mortals.

Since leaving the workforce and moving six hundred miles to another home within the space of two weeks, I’ve become somewhat lazy and extremely forgetful.

It stands to reason this lapse occurs.

Physically, we’re tuned up to be thoroughbred workaholics, burning the candle at both ends, injecting every possible ounce of work/life balance into a 24-hour period. Mentally, we teeter on the edge of a learning pin as we push far too much information into limited brain capacity, with no ability to purge old files.

It’s an exhausting roller-coaster ride from which the only escape is retirement or – you know – that other, less attractive alternative.

When we break – cold turkey – from decades of this excessive autopilot behavior, it stands to reason we will lose something.

In my case, I think I’ve lost my mind. It’s not only that I walk into rooms wondering why I once determined the need to be there. It’s more of a slow-drip malaise that prevents clarity.

Why Me? Why Now?

Since retirement, I find myself awash in days bearing little difference from days that came before. Few benchmarks punctuate time.

Though busy with a hundred things on an inexhaustible “honey-do” list, nothing seems particularly celebrated if compared to the highs experienced by successful career accomplishments. There’s no discernable movement on my emotional Richter scale.

Current accomplishments aren’t measured by the exalted cheers of colleagues but with a silent high-five to myself for hanging a painting on the living room wall or knocking down the cable bill by 10 bucks a month.

It simply doesn’t seem consequential.

From the level of a sensory response, it’s like I’ve transitioned from high-powered sales professional to working the fine jewelry counter at a sluggish JC Penney location.

I’ve been marked-down!

A Day in The Life

It’s left me in a constant state of distraction, illustrated by a series of incidents that happened to occur in a single day a few weeks ago.

First, the woman working the counter at the dry-cleaning establishment I frequent asked when I’d like to pick up the clothes I was leaving behind. “Friday’s fine,” I said, cheerfully. I remembered hassled days of employment with no time to take care of personal items. Back then, I usually needed one-day service.

After peering at me for a long moment, she asked, “Do you really want to wait that long?”

As if I might not make it past the five days?

Later, while trying to squeeze my car out of a spot between two ill-parked cars, a very presentable young man got out of his vehicle and politely asked if I’d like him to finish the task.

I stared at him until he felt sure his next move was to back away.

I drove home – steaming mad. I realized, at the front door, I’d forgotten my keys – so I rang the bell. A strange woman answered and began to explain – in a voice reserved for people drooling into a cup – that all the houses in our neighborhood looked alike and I probably lived one block over.

Oh, and, did I want her to call someone to pick me up?

That evening, buying tickets to a comedy at the local movie theater, instead of rubbing salt into an exposed wound, I decided not to ask for a discounted senior ticket.

The person sitting in the cashier booth – luckily for her behind safety glass – looked thoughtfully into my eyes and asked, “Sir, wouldn’t you like to take advantage of our senior rates?”

It was The Day the Music Died.

Retirement Is a Transition

I’m almost through the abominable transition from career to retirement. I can feel it in my bones. (Which, by the way, are not arthritic.)

I have plans. Big plans. I just need the attitude adjustment to click into gear.

Until then, I’ll watch this week’s Law and Order marathon while swearing to myself I’ve never before seen any of the episodes.

And perhaps color my hair.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What did your retirement transition feel like? Did you notice an absent-mindedness you’d never experienced before? Did you, at any point, feel like you’d lost your mind? Let’s talk about our post-retirement shock in the comments below.

Why pay for the gym, when real life chores are so much more beneficial? Not to mention, I need a solution that saves time, money and is practical. It’s a retirement conundrum: the gym has become inconvenient.

Of course, I still get a sense of accomplishment when I swim 66 laps in 30 minutes, but can I carry 10 pounds of groceries up icy stairs and keep my balance? Not as well as I do those laps.

It seems not falling on the icy stairs and breaking the eggs (let alone my hip) is the goal these days. I had to face the truth, I needed exercises that would make life easier. I needed to make my housework my new workout. Could I learn to embrace it? And dare I say, enjoy it?

Home Vacuuming vs. Gym Membership

It turns out, I was paying for the wrong services. I actually like to vacuum, but, for years, I paid people to do that, as a basic necessity in my “super working mom” persona. Whoops, forgot to adjust that, now that I’m semi-retired.

Going to the gym itself is a chore. Getting ready, being on time – even for a favorite class. Gauging when it’s not crowded. Parking.

Is the payoff of going to the gym worth the planning, time and effort to coordinate the gym bag, workout clothes and where to shower when you are not already out and about and en-route to another activity? For me, no. No, it is not.

Save time and money by taking back all your chores! Do your own vacuuming, laundry and cleaning to burn real calories while taking care of your house.

For those of you who find a sense of accomplishment in your gym workout, let me tell you: seeing that floor shine always makes me feel fantastic!

In terms of dressing for your home workout, there are more options than ever. You can dress sexy or cool, or even wear a little maid outfit if you decide. Now that’s an extra personal benefit.

Workout Goals: Bending, Lifting and Awareness

The goal is to make your everyday chores and activities easier to do. And to accomplish that, you will need to do them more often and better.

Are the pots in the bottom drawer? Leave them there and seriously squat, not bend, the entire time you are searching for anything. Use all of the shelves and drawers and space in your kitchen, especially the upper and lower real estate. Bend, stretch, reach. Repeat.

Lift the laundry, the garbage, the books and papers. Lift from your core, pull your shoulders back, suck your stomach in and balance. Hold this pose while carrying anything up or downstairs and generally strutting around.

Make more small trips, consciously using stairs, a step stool, a ladder. Find reasons to stand and balance with whatever materials (and crap) you have in your house that need to be moved, cleaned around, organized or removed.

Invest in 3 Items for a No-Fail 5-Step Routine

• Balance board
• Stretching band
• Big bouncy ball

These three basic toning supplies have been present in every course of physical therapy I have had, no matter the presenting epicenter. Ankle, hip, shoulder, foot, hand or thigh, they all use these exercises!

They are the bread and butter of PT and OT. Suggested by every Nurse Practitioner, Doctor, Chiropractor and Nurse because they are basic, simple and needed. It’s hard to screw them up, and by now, you should all know them.

I am, however, assuming (and it’s a big assumption) that everyone has a yoga mat, probably resting in a corner and making you feel guilty. This is your chance to get rid of that guilt. Use it now. If not, the quick fix is to use a towel or blanket.

Basic Routine: 30 Repetitions each exercise. 3 sets of 10 each. (You can find videos on YouTube for basic instructions.)

• Sit-ups with feet in table-top position on big bouncy ball.
• Bridges with ball between knees squeezing inner thighs.
• Standing squats with big bouncy ball against the wall.
• Balance board: Balance for 30 seconds, not letting the board touch the ground. Work up to four minutes. Work up to balancing on one foot at a time. Keep working.
• Wall pushups for upper back and shoulder strength.
• Stretching band: Keep limber and hold each big muscle group for 1 minute. Don’t forget to stretch your calves separately. Repeat.

Errands and Dancing

Using errands and dancing for burning calories are old school tricks. We all know to park far away from the entrance, so we can have a long walk in the parking lot. If you use community transportation, get off a stop or two early.

Finally, in the store, go up and down every aisle (just don’t run people over) and every floor, depending on the layout. You can get in close to 4,000 steps with roughly only 40 minutes of walking.

That’s right, it’s 100 steps per minute for the average walker, so adjust accordingly. Also, this will allay your curiosity about what’s on sale and where the items you can never find are located (remember to write that down).

Dancing around the house to your favorite songs also burns calories and builds aerobic capacity. Think of your five favorite songs, each about 3–4 minutes long. That’s 15–20 minutes of enjoyable moving and grooving, instead of sitting and waiting.

You get extra points if you dance in your underwear. It adds excitement. According to the Lose It app, 15 minutes of general dancing burns 133 calories. That includes, folk, disco and line dancing.

Sorry, slow ballroom dancing is only 39 calories for 15 minutes as is the horizontal Mumbo for general, moderate sexual activity.

The Cool Down – Slice an Apple

To cool down, you can slice an apple like William Shakespeare or Prince Henry because archery certainly counts as a work out. However, I am thinking more along the lines of an old apple slicer – the type that’s been in the family forever.

You must use all your brute force to bear down to get the apple into eight perfect pieces without getting stuck. It’s hard work. Reach all the way up for the cutting board. Then pirouette over to the fridge, bow to grab the cheese, arabesque to find a sharp knife, maintain perfect balance while thinly slicing the cheese.

Wrestle opening the olive jar, using all your strength while working out those arthritic thumbs. Use hand-eye coordination to plate the food and make it appealing.

Balance entire snack on tray while walking from kitchen to sofa table, dodging shoes so as not to spill one drop. Engage your stomach muscles, upper back, neck and shoulders to sit comfortably. Indulge.

Making your everyday chores your workout will boost your free time and make your house shine. Which moves will you incorporate into your workout routine?

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What do you think about substituting the gym with housework? Would you enjoy it? Which chore movement/exercise do you think would really benefit you? Please share in the comments below.

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, STYLECASTER may receive an affiliate commission.

Thursday night was Ralph Lauren’s SS23 fashion show in Los Angeles, the first time the designer had a West Coast show. LA’s hottest stars came out decked out in classic Ralph Lauren, including Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck. Although we were supposed to be looking at clothes, we couldn’t help but notice how glossy, shiny and stunning J.Lo’s Old Hollywood-style waves were. Not to mention, her subtle glam makeup and fall-ready nails. Don’t worry — we got all the scoop.

Lopez’s glam team came out to do their thing, with Chris Appleton on hair, as usual. “Dream shine this evening with jlo,” he wrote on Instagram and shine is right. We’re dying to know how her strands got so glossy. It could be his favorite Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray ($44.93 at Amazon), which wraps hair in a water-resistant barrier so strands are silky, glossy and frizz-free. He also enlisted Violet Teriti, a Russian hair/extension expert to add length and volume.

Source: Instagram

Makeup artist Scott Barnes was responsible for the glam, which consisted of bold lashes, glowy skin and a nude lip from his own brand — the J.Lo special. She knows what works and she sticks to it. She did switch up her nails, though. She traded in her nude and grey shades for a fall-ready wine color. Nail artist Tom Bachik shared his inspo:

“Last night’s look, pure Ralph Lauren. Makeup was clean and fresh. Hair perfection in glamorous waves,” he said. “Beautiful, classic, minimalist was the vibe and nails needed to complete the look. We went with Essie’s #424 Bordeaux to do just that! Short, strong, natural-shaped nails help the color pop. Paired with the Ralph Lauren black pinstripe dress and gold jewelry gave us timeless strength, sophistication, and style.”

Source: Instagram

You know what that means? Thanks to Essie, you can get J.Lo’s exact nail look for just $7 on Amazon.

When I was young, the stars aligned, and I was able to know my great grandmother. I remember a kind lady who was very smiley, but tough to talk with because she mostly spoke Italian.

My mom remembers Mamie having lived a difficult life and looking very old when she was only in her 40s.

But it was Mamie’s ring finger that I’ll never forget. Having lost the top third (with the nail) in an old-timey washing machine, it looked like a Vienna sausage. The skin just grew over her little stump-finger.

Women of yesteryear were tough. (And, spoiler alert: so are you and I.)

Can you imagine? Those women had no right to vote (until 1920 in the U.S.), iffy birth control, sketchy medical care, no Pampers, no dishwasher.

I complain if I run out of almond milk.

If you don’t design your own life plan, chances are you’ll fall into someone else’s plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much.

– Jim Rohn

My Point

Generations of women have been transforming the female culture through the decades and centuries, and you and I are the (insanely) happy recipients.

We take care of our health: we’re certainly more into fitness than generations past, and we prefer to stay at a healthier weight than our great grandmothers.

Women in their 70s and 80s today live life to the fullest; we aren’t sitting in our rocker, cat in lap, excited for the latest episode of Days of Our Lives.

We’re running 5Ks, learning to indoor rock climb, and kayaking on the local river.

We’re not afraid of the work involved to stay lean over age 50. Whether we’re losing weight because our surgeon won’t schedule a hip replacement until we lose 30 lbs.; we want to lose 10 for our grandson’s wedding; or we’re tired of our clothes pinching, we’re starting to understand that we can take control over our weight loss.

But here’s how we’re different from generations in the past: we’re maintaining our loss of extra weight. Called a “forever loss,” maintenance has burst onto the modern health scene.

Now It’s Our Turn

What will you and I contribute to the vast sisterhood of women who came before us and left so much good in their wake?

How about the concept that we can reinvent how we engage with our health? Starting with how we eat.

Bequeathing Wealth to the Next Generation

You and I know that there’s so much wrong with the fast food industry, the grocery store aisles packed with sugar, salt and fat, and holidays swimming in food-porn.

As we lose and maintain after age 50, let’s be proud that something much larger is happening here.

We’ve decided not to drink the Kool-Aid. Society doesn’t get to tell us “how it is” about our health. We’re taking charge of our health and happiness.

We’re showing the world how it’s done.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Do you think of yourself as tough – take no prisoners — when it comes to your health? Do you live with the – mythical – notion that women “over a certain age” can’t lose weight and keep it off? Do you think of yourself as someone who “drinks the Kool-Aid” when it comes to your health and weight loss?

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, STYLECASTER may receive an affiliate commission.

I don’t know about you, but my skin is already getting drier by the day and I even have some rough patches that I can’t seem to shake. ’Tis fall, I suppose. But I know that things have to change because I don’t want to have the skin of a scaly lizard during all of the colder months. The obvious next move would be to find a solid moisturizer that delivers deep hydration without worsening the irritation and flakiness. Enter: CLEARSTEM Skincare’s Hydraglow Stem Cell Moisturizer.

Backed by bakuchiol (a natural alternative to retinol), olive squalane and stem cells, the bestselling moisturizer will have your complexion looking smoother, healthier and younger in no time. Plus, it excludes pore-clogging ingredients and toxins that can trigger acne, so you know you’re putting only the best on your skin. 

Ideal for all skin types, the formula “trains your skin to look younger while you sleep,” according to the brand. Sounds like an impossible task, right? Well, bakuchiol promotes collagen production, which helps your skin look firm and youthful. It’s like retinol, except it doesn’t leave your skin aggravated and flaky. Plus, stem cells work to increase cell turnover so that your skin tone appears even and your complexion lacks visible signs of aging. Fine lines and wrinkles, who??

CLEARSTEM Skincare specializes in anti-aging and anti-acne formulas that yield noticeable, long-lasting results. So if you have acne-prone or mature skin (or both!), know that your skin is in good hands. 

Don’t wait any longer to shop the Hydraglow Stem Cell Moisturizer to counteract winter’s chilly breeze and keep your complexion wrinkle-free.

RELATED: This $9 Firming Collagen Moisturizer Is So Effective, Shoppers Have Stopped Getting Botox—& We Can’t Believe It’s Still on Sale 

Photo: CLEARSTEM Skincare.

Apply a dime-size amount of moisturizer to your face and neck in both the morning and night to see the best results possible. Speaking of results, so many shoppers can attest to this product’s miracle-working abilities.

“The moisturizer is rich and luxurious but does NOT leave your skin feeling greasy. I love that my skin can still breathe after I’ve applied it,” raved one shopper. 

“I love how hydrating this cream is! It’s not too heavy and makes my skin look dewy and full of life,” wrote another five-star reviewer. 

To top it off, another shopper wrote, “I’ve been using CLEARSTEM products for about two years and absolutely love everything that I try! But this moisturizer is life-changing, it makes my skin feel so soft and the glow is real!!”

There’s no question you’re going to need a secret weapon skincare product to take on winter’s wrath, so why not let it be CLEARSTEM Skincare’s Hydraglow Stem Cell Moisturizer? It’s as good as it gets when it comes to an acne and wrinkle-fighting formula that also hydrates and maintains a healthy skin barrier.